Rajoana's sister to contest from Pataiala in LS polls

Kamaldeep Kaur, sister of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a death row convict in the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, on Saturday announced her candidature from Patiala for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Her move came a week after Rajoana had announced to field candidates in the elections.

Rajoana had announced through a letter from the high security Patiala Central Jail, whrere he is lodged, that he would field a candidate either from Patiala or Ananadpur Sahib.

The Patiala parliamentary seat is represented by Preneet Kaur, wife of former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, for last 14 years while Ravneet Singh Bittu, grandson of Beant Singh, represents Anandpur Sahib seat.

Holding a press conference here, Kamaldeep said following the directions of her brother she would contest against union minister of states for external affairs Preneet Kaur.

She said that Rajoana had asked her to contest against the Patiala royal family to expose that the former chief minister and his wife were working against the Khalsa Panth.

However, poll pundits said it was just a gimmick of Rajoana to stay in limelight.

"There are reports that Rajaona's family has got huge foreign funding. Now, the announcement to contest elections by his sister has reaffirmed that it's another attempt to get foreign funding,"a Jail authority said.